The Various Gods & You, Monday, First Period

[ifwebeworthy]

The students should have gotten a message, but just in case they hadn't, a sign was posted on the door of the classroom this morning:

Class cancelled in observation of Indigenous Peoples' Day
Columbus didn't even discover America

Sex and Sexuality, Monday

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Next week is fall break," Jon began. "So, you'll all be out in a potentially strange city and you may want to go out on your own." He grimaced. "We...well, I..." he gave Hannibal a look, "devoutly wish we didn't have to discuss these other sorts of safety, but the world being what it is, we will anyway."

Hannibal ignored the look and nodded gravely to them. "People can be terrible."

"You would know," Jon muttered.

Hannibal cleared his throat. "Men, particularly, and in places where people congregate to find dates. So, today we will be discussing safety in such places."

"First of all, don't go alone," Jon said. "Stay with someone if at all possible. Safety in numbers and all that. If you can't, make sure someone else at least knows where you are and where you'll be."

"Do not get into cars or go off with anybody you don't know," Hannibal said.

"Cover your drink and keep an eye on it," Jon said. "You don't want to have to worry about drugs."

Hannibal looked smug. "I have bought you each a kit to help with that as well." He handed them out. "These will test your drink if you're worried."

"Trust your instincts if you don't feel safe," Jon said. He sighed. "I really, really wish we didn't have to give this lecture, and it absolutely should not be on you to keep yourselves safe, but here we are."

"Otherwise, enjoy your time in Quebec!" Hannibal said, pronouncing it the proper French way.

Like the pretentious ass he was.

Fast Talking, Monday, Period 2

[jedigrammarians]

"Attitude," Aphra stated as she came into the classroom that had the projector set up in it. "Attitude will get you further than just about anything."

"Even if it's just because they're too baffled to stop you," Isabela added. "As you'll see from our informational video."

Yes. Informational video and not movie they justified at at the last minute.

Food & Cultural Appreciation, Tuesday Third Period

[carbsliftthespirit]

"All right, folks!" Raiden said with an enthusiastic clap of his hands once everyone had assembled. "This week we're heading to my country of origin, although I've never actually been where we're going today, because one of my brothers is...dramatic." No, not that one. "See, I'm from Corinth, which is a little bit west of where we'll be going today: Athens, Greece! Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a recorded history going back almost three and a half thousand years, and evidence of people living in the area going back to...like...thirteen thousand years ago. In ancient times, Athens was one of the most powerful city-states in what is now Greece, and it's considered the birthplace of democracy and the cradle of what we consider Western civilization. In modern times, the metropolitan area is home to almost a third of the population of Greece, home to numerous museums and historical sites like the Acropolis...and they've got some very delicious food.

"Greek food is a Mediterranean diet, which means that it's based on certain things: wheat; olive oil, wine, and seafood traditionally more than red meat, although these days meat is more common...though usually sheep or goat over beef, because the terrain in most of Greece isn't overly suited to cattle. Greece was one of the earliest wine-producing areas in the world, and the olive oil and yogurt from Greece are renowned worldwide. They use a lot of phyllo, which is very thin sheets of dough used for making pastries, both sweet like baklava and savory like spanakopita. Some other Greek foods you may be familiar with include feta cheese, moussaka, which is a delicious baked eggplant casserole with ground lamb, horiatiki, more commonly known in English as 'Greek salad,' tzatziki, a sauce made of that delicious Greek yogurt and cucumber, and gyros or souvlaki, the Greek version of fast food made from meat roasted on a spit. While we're in Athens I would also encourage you to try retsina, a wine made with pine resin that's been produced since ancient times, or ouzo, an anise-flavored spirit." If you did try both of these, you might be left with the suspicion that Raiden was secretly evil. Or you might like them. Who could say?

"I'm starving, so let's head through our portal to Athens and get started on our self-guided food tour!"